Top 4 King’s Day music festivals

King's Day is that exciting time of year for putting on your orange outfit and joining the crowds, whether it's in the city centre at a flea market in one of the main Dutch cities, or at one of the Netherlands' renowned music festivals that take place on this celebratory day. Here are four of the outstanding annual music events taking place on King's Day.

Kralingse Bos Festival

Kralingse Bos Festival is the biggest King’s Day music festival in Rotterdam. Located in the lush green lake-side park, you can enjoy the open-air festival with impressive and varied artists all day long. 

The solid line-up is spread across five stages! You’ll find artists like Nicole Moudaber, Matador, Reinier Zonneveld, Michel De Hay, ANOTR, Joey Daniel, Leroy Styles and Nour, as well as techno acts Len Faki, Ben Sims, Henrik Schwarz, Octave One, Charlotte De Witte, Deniro and Ben Buitendijk. On the Venour stage are Kraantje Pappie, Paul Elstak, Hef, Jacin Trill, FS Green, Trafassi, DJ Moortje and more.

If you want to keep the festivities going, you can buy tickets to the Kralingse Bos Festival Afterparty on the Kralingse Bos Festival website, at 17,35 each.

Oranjebloesem

Oranjebloesem is an electronic music festival for those in search of a King’s Day event outside the mainstream. There are impressive DJs across five stages on a scenic beach near Amsterdam. The DJs performing are KiNK, Colin Benders, Dekmantel Soundsystem, Omar Souleyman, DJ Tennis, Job Jobse, Jungle By Night and Joris Voorn, and many many more.

Oranjebloesem’s shoreline location gives the festival a ravishing backdrop. It takes place at Blijburg aan Zee, a scenic sandy beach to the east of Amsterdam, on the shore of the IJmeer. The festival starts at 12pm and finishes at 8pm. You can book your ticket online for 40 euros each. Valid ID is required, as this is an event for people over the age of 18.

Getting to Oranjebloesem is convenient. The easiest way to get there by public transport is to take a train to Bijlmer Arena and then bus 66. Otherwise, you can take tram 26 from Amsterdam IJburg and then walk 10 minutes to the west from Blijburg station.

Cartel Kingsday Outdoor

Westergasfabriek welcomes you to a 19-hour non-stop dance music extravaganza this King's Day! During the day, from 12pm until 8pm, the Klönneplein, right in front of the Westerunie and the Westerliefde, will be home to intense dance action. After night falls, the action will continue indoors until 7am the next morning!

You can attend the Cartel Kingsday afternoon and evening fun from 12pm to 8pm for 12,50 euros. The Cartel Kingsday by Night from 7pm until 7am the next morning is 15 euros. For die-hard attendees, the events as a package cost 25 euros.

The line-up is as exciting as this event sounds: Ben Sims, Optimo, Move D Ryan Elliott, I-F, Sandrien, Bambounou, David Vunk, Carlos Valdes, Interstellar Funk, Philou Louzolo, Elias Mazian, Job Sifre, Titia, Max Abysmal, Mino Abadier, Tenzers, Pablo Discobar Soundsystem, Kennedy, Jaime Frias, Mark Antoni, Joris Zwetsloot, Tylan Alan and more.

Loveland Van Oranje

Loveland Van Oranje is one of the most popular King's Day music events in Amsterdam, now in its 23rd year. Loveland Van Oranje is run by the distinguished Dutch events promoter Loveland and has always stood for quality, high-level production and overwhelmingly popular visitor experiences. Taking place at Meerpark, Amsterdam, it begins at 11am on King's Day and finishes up at midnight.

The two stages, the “King Stage” and the “Queen Stage”, are home to back to back performances going on all evening from 6.30pm. On the King Stage, you’ll find Pan-Pot, Alan Fitzpatrick, Skream, Reinier Zonneveld, EgbertLIVE, Enrico Sangiuliano, Secret Cinema, Bart Skils, 2000 and One. On the Queen Stage, there will be Benny Rodrigues, De Sluwe Vos, Wouter, Samuel Deep, Prunk, Chris Stussy, Olivier Weiter, Miss Melera, ANOTR and LUUK Van Dijk.